The city has sought and received bids for the removal of asbestos from and demolition of a vacant motel on the city's west side, though the owner of the buildings said he wants to "disassemble" the buildings and use the lumber for another construction project.

The city commission might move forward with the demolition of the two vacant buildings when it meets Tuesday.

A city commission agenda report released Friday states the MFH Environmental Corporation of El Paso, Texas, has offered to remove asbestos from what was once the Sun Motel, 732 U.S. Highway 70 West, for about $10,700.

The city ordered the "abatement of the dilapidated structures" in 2011 and later found the buildings to contain asbestos, which must be removed before any scheduled demolition can take place.

A separate item on Tuesday's agenda shows the city has received two bids for the demolition of the buildings, the low one being for about $43,000 from Alamogordo-based Jack Wayte Construction.

Morris Calkins, who owns the buildings, said he has used the buildings mostly for storage related to his machine shop, which is next door.

He said the buildings were formerly located on Holloman Air Force Base but were moved to their current location, possibly during the 1950s. He has been in his current location since the mid-1960s.

Calkins said he has been in a dispute with the city over the property for several years and wants to "disassemble" the building rather than see it demolished, because he wants to use the lumber which he said is high quality to build another structure on a separate tract of land.

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He is worried that simply demolishing the building will render the lumber inside useless.

He said he has cooperated with the city but believes the city wants him to tear down the building more quickly than he is able to.

Calkins said he has put up a fence to block the buildings from view and blocked entrances at the request of the city, though people have been coming onto the property illegally and entering the building.

Deacon Smith, who works with Calkin in his machine shop, said he was under the impression the buildings contain a "minute" amount of asbestos, possibly in the window sealant.

City records show that the city wants to complete the asbestos removal because of the "complexity of the asbestos abatement and draft a payment plan for the property owner."

Calkins said he plans on possibly selling the property, once the buildings have been removed.

"I am making progress on this undertaking, and firmly believe that I have done everything asked of me," Calkins wrote in a letter addressed to the commission.

Calkins said he has cleared out most of the machinery inside the buildings and is working with a heavy machinery operator to complete the demolition of the building.

He goes on to say that he understands that "some sort of abatement must be performed," and asked for the commission to allow him to do the remainder of the work himself. "Additionally, I am requesting some form of reasonable plan to reimburse the council in the matter of abatement costs."Reach John Bear at jbear@alamogordonews.com or on Twitter @johnbearwithme